RESIDENTS will find out just how wild Hester's Way is next month.

Tadpoles, newts, frogs, meadow flowers and pond skaters will be under the spotlight to be identified at a biodiversity day on June 2 at Springfield Park.

The Wild Day Out aims to show residents you do not have to trek through the countryside to find nature – it is all on the doorstep.

A group of children and parents will hunt through the shrub land and ponds to find as many natural wonders as they can.

Youngsters will then set to work making a "bugs' hotel", a specially-created home for insects and other creepy crawlies.

Andy Hayes, manager of Hester's Way Partnership, said: "With all the evidence we get, we are going to make interpretation boards which will be put at the three different areas of biodiversity so visitors will know what is there."

The group will be under the guidance of Cheltenham Borough Council's park ranger Janice Payne, who will be joined be another natural history expert who will help identify what is found.

Andy added: "The idea is people will go out into the park and see that even close to their homes there is a wide range of species."

The concept has been devised by the BBC to celebrate 2010 being the International Year of Biodiversity.

The Wild Days Out aim to give residents a sense of discovery and excitement about their local environment.

Andy said: "The ponds in the park are only two-and-a-half years old but already they are attracting all types of wildlife."

Alison Bendall, secretary of Friends of Springbank, said: "We have been working hard to make the park a good place for people to visit. We don't want people to be afraid of walking around it. I think this is a great idea."

She said the event will give youngsters an education in nature they may otherwise miss out on.

"If you are involved in this event and find out about what is actually living in the park, you will be less likely to destroy it," she said.

"The youngsters have got to be made to feel that the park is for them too."

To find out more call Andy Hayes on 01242 548294.